George e



(No Model.)

G. E. ADAMS. GARMENT SUPPORTER.

Patented Nov. 7

THE NA'rmNAL Llmocsmvnmca cuMPANY.

wAsHmuYoN. o. c.

WM @e UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ADAMS, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRAUT St l-IINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,076, dated November 7, 1893.

Application filed August 3, 1893. SeralNo. 482,262. (No model.)

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description Azo A form of fixed jaw. Y

ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in garment supporters, and particularly, though not exclusively to supporters, such as are usedy by ladies and children.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will-be now described and pointed out particularly inthe appended claim.

Referrlng to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a supporter constructed in accordance with my present invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional lviews through the preferred form of attachlng end or clasp, and showing the same'open and closed. Fig. tis an enlarged perspective of a slightly different form of clasp, showing that the form of jaws for gripping the fabric may be changed. Fig. 5 shows a modified Like letters of reference indicate the sam parts in all the figures.

The letter A indicates the web of the supporter provided with means at the upper end for attaching the supporter to the garments at the waist, such for instance as'the safety pin and slide A. At the lower end, the web is preferably bifurcated and on each of the depending ends there is secured a fastening device for the attachment of the hose or garment to be supported. These fastening devices embody the essential elements of my present invention, and each consists of a base plate B preferably curved forwardly and-made elastic or formed of spring metal for a purpose which will presently appear. At or near the bottom, the base plate is provided with what I shall term a stationary gripping jaw, the same being formed in this instance by a stud C, although any other well known form adapted to work in across its center.

of jaw adapted to hold the fabricv may be employed. To the upper end of the baseplate is pivoted, approximately midway of its length, or centrally, a lever D, the outer end of which is formed with a loop or opening E for the attachment of the web of the supporter, and the inner end of which forms one member of a toggle lever or knuckle joint, the other member being formed by pivoting the rear-end of the movable jaw F thereto. The forward or operative end of the movable jaw is adapted to seat in beneath the edge of the stationary jaw, or against the shank of the stud, and the knuckle or toggle joint is Thus, the strain of the fabric clamped between the jaws cannot force the movable jaw back,but only tends to force the knuckle more tightly against the base plate. The clasp is readily opened by moving the extended end of the centrally pivoted member to which the web is attached. Thus the wearer may either engage or release the clasp with the greatest facility, and at the saine time, there is little or no danger of an accidental release. This feature is of the utinost importance especially in View of the vfact that the web is attached to this extended end of the centrally pivoted member of the toggle; hence the downward pull on the gripping jaws tends to hold the jointrin and the jaws closed.

By reference particularly to Figs. 2 and 3,

it will be seen, that the base plate is curved forwardly somewhat, and being made of spring metal, it will yield or straighten out somewhat as the' jaws are forced together, more.

especially, when there is a thick hose or garment between the jaws, permittingeither thick or thin garments to be grasped or gripped by the jaws with equal facility.

In attaching the clasp to the web of the supporter, the end of the web is preferably secured to the lower end of the base plate by being passed through an opening G therein,

and a loop h is passed through the opening in the extended end of the toggle lever,asufY icient length of web being left at the back of the clasp to permit the lever to move freely, but at the same time it is tight enough to form a smooth protection for the back of the clasp, whereby the metal is kept away from IOO the skin of the wearer. Obviously, the shape of the movable jaw may be changed to snit the fancy of the man ufactu rer, or the uses t0 which the device is adapted. Thus as shown in Fig. 4, instead of employing the simple recessed jaw as in the other figures, I form acircularopening through which the stud projects, and it is obvious that other well known forms of jaws may be employed. So too, the form of the xed jaw may be changed, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 5, wherein theI end of the base plate is bent forward and up, forming a hook K. For strength and to afford a better hold, the hook part has a central elevation or rib 7:: and the end of themovablejaw is formed to fit it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is GEORGE E. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

E. N. STANLEY, II. W. EDDY. 

